Apply now for the MLH Top 50 Class of 2026!
Applications and nominations are now open for the 2026 MLH Top 50!
Every MLH Top 50 hacker fills out an application which is carefully reviewed by the MLH team. The 50 selected are able to effectively communicate the ways in which they impacted the hacker community, the innovative work they’ve made, how they have inspired other hackers, and why their story is unique.
You can apply or nominate a friend to be a part of the MLH Top 50 for 2026!
And check out the profiles below to learn more about our past winners.
Afonne CID, 28
Afonne CID is a resilient, self-taught MLH Fellow and Open Source Contributor from a remote Nigerian village who launched his tech career by learning to code on Mavis Beacon software before owning a computer. After joining the ALX SE program and initially being rejected, he was accepted into the Spring 2024 MLH Fellowship, which proved to be a pivotal experience. His contributions to OpenStack Ironic during the fellowship led to a contract position with G-Research's Open Source Software team, and he has since become a Core Reviewer for the project. Now serving as an MLH mentor for the Spring 2025 cohort, Afonne's "grass-to-grace" journey demonstrates how dedication and community support can lead to significant achievements in the Open Source world.
Who are these hackers?
These hackers are people who have stood out from the crowd and done something exceptional within the hacker community. Whether they were creating an event to bring tech education to their area, working to make the tech world more inclusive, or programming a project with a positive impact on society, they have all inspired us. Like you, they are students or recent graduates who are using their knowledge to make the world a better place.